A Sneak Peek into Hive Home

An interview with Shivangi Shah
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Shivangi Shah is founder of Hive Home, a light design studio based in Mumbai. The studio offers a stunning range of bespoke light installations, created to challenge and enhance interior spaces. Hive Home combines the authenticity of glass craft with innovative technologies and creative craftsmanship to offer bespoke lighting solutions in a manner that lighting design becomes an integral part of the overall design experience.

Interior Design and Innovation” is a series of live interviews at ArchiDiaries. In the series, we interacted with industry experts and professionals exploring emerging ideas and technology in Interior and Furniture Design. The talks and articles initiated the topics of the evolving world of Interior and Furniture Design. For our third interview of the series, we had a session with Ms Shivangi Shah, wherein she gave us an exclusive insight into the journey, working and trajectories of Hive Home.

Shivangi Shah

London became a catalyst for the inception of Shivangi’s lighting design. During her higher studies, she was fascinated by the craft and lifelike installations of glass-blowing. Hive Home introduced lighting in 2016 when multiple collections were launched yearly, but the most popular type was Bespoke. Indigenous handicrafts combined with the latest technology allowed multiple themes and finishes to be incorporated with endless possibilities. With the adaptation of the ‘Make in India’ movement, the team collaborated with various artisans and craftspeople to execute the products. India’s handicrafts are combined with different techniques to make better and more evolved products. The team sees, learns, performs and reworks to develop a beautiful set of products for our clients. Following are some of the projects shared by Shivangi.

Meluha:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Meluha

Meluha is a combination of chandeliers put together in a nightclub in Mumbai. From the lighting design perspective, this was a large-scale project covering 1000 sq ft of area with 24 chandeliers consisting of 2400 glass globes. The entire installation is automated through coding to respond to the music in the nightclub. The range of the music defines the height of the installation, so if the music is low, the lights can go lower and vice versa. The clusters are also divided to allow for multiple combinations of lighting patterns. The installation takes its inspiration from the starry constellation.

Amber:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Amber

Amber, an installation for Courtyard by Marriott, Nashik, where the scale and proportion became an opportunity and constraint for the design. The chandelier is about 16 feet by 16 feet, consisting of a variety of glass sizes ranging from 8 inches to 28 inches. Sunset of Nashik inspired the installation, as did the colours. Amber, used for glasses, gives a fluid outlook to the space even when the lights are not being used.

Baubles:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Baubles

Baubles is a lighting installation done in the banquet room of Courtyard by Marriott. Taking baubles as an inspiration, Hive Home curated this installation with gold, amber, brown, and champagne gold tones with a dynamic light effect. A unique metal coating has been incorporated to justify the charm and luxury of the hotel.

Halo:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Halo

Halo is a chandelier designed for a residence’s entrance lobby. The chandelier is a 30 feet wide big brass ring handcrafted with brass and blown glass. The chandelier consists of multiple combinations of blown glass forming various clusters that are put together to form a whole. The furniture placement defines the position of the light to have a focal effect on the same. A circular aesthetics has been followed to design and curate the same.

Snow White:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Snow White

Snow White is an installation done for a private residence in Mumbai. The installation, 10 feet tall and covering 28 feet in length, has 2500 blown glass leaves and stands. A Frozen Winterland fairytale inspires the installation. It is a dense cluster made with the help of the traditional flamework technique. Using white as a colour for the installation gave a pure and pristine effect; hence, the name Snow White.

Hotel Palm Springs:

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home
Hotel Palm Springs

A glass chandelier for the banquet hall in Hotel Palm Springs, Nashik is one of the most significant projects that has coverage of 1200 sq ft. The biggest constraint was time and the deliverance of the project. The glass collection is known as the Ripple collection, finished with blue, amber, and gold hues. Each glass has its wave formation drawing its inspiration from the droplet.

A Sneak Peek into Hive Home

In conversation with Mohammed Ayaz Khan, editor of ArchiDiaries, Shivangi Shah, discusses the importance of lighting design on the aesthetics of spaces and the approach of Hive Home. Lighting design has the potential to uplift the environment by capturing the essence of the drama and mood the space inhabits. She also mentions how bespoke elements can create captivating spaces. Following is the summary of the conversation.

MA: Who are the teams of craftsmen and designers that Hive Home has, and what role do they play in the process?

SS: The Hive Home  crew is made up of professional glass blowers and metal fabricators. We also have a group of technicians involved in automation, weight, and installation needs. As a result, the technical face of the design is governed by a team of artisans, technologists, and lighting experts. Additionally, a group of designers, 3D renderers, and visual artists prepare models for proposals and client discussions ahead of time. As a result, the staff covers every aspect, from design to implementation.

MA: With every great product, a service factor is attached. How does Hive Home take care of the same?

SS: Since the company is based in India, customers prefer us over Chinese and Italian items. We provide clients with a firsthand inventory of the glass, because it may be broken for whatever reason. We supply an extra set of glasses if the inventory runs out. We provide maintenance contracts to clients that live in Maharashtra. Due to their size, most commercial and large-scale projects we have undertaken were maintained by our staff.

MA: As you scale the products up, standardisation comes into the picture; how do you intend to retain bespoke qualities in your work along with growth and expansion?

SS: Our goal is to expand worldwide by creating an online catalogue offering a range of standardised products; since everyone wants a statement piece in their home or office, not just installations but also products such as lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces. Bespoke will always be a sector, and a standard product line will be created alongside it.

MA: Does the team directly work with clients, or are any architects or designers involved in the process?

SS: A customer or an architect/designer may initiate the project. However, we usually consult architects/designers since they may be familiar with the structural support of the area as well as any technical assistance necessary. Earlier, when an architecture/interior project was designed, the client would purchase bespoke lighting and chandeliers; but now lighting is designed from the start of the design process. In some cases, architects/designers define the desired experience/quality for the space, and we, as lighting designers, try to bring those qualities into the space through our work. 

MA: Do you think there is enough awareness among the designers and students about the potential of lighting design?

SS: There has been increased awareness, and everything is now available due to technological advancements. I feel students are more aware than most others, since they keep up with current national or worldwide events and trends. Every year, we observe an increase in how clients want to explore and experiment with bespoke solutions that make their place stand out.

MA: Is there a good scope for lighting design professionals nationally and internationally?

SS: Yes, there is significant scope for lighting designers, which constitute lighting consultants. A company like ours that creates custom pieces and installations falls under the category of product designers. This field has a lot of potential.

The conversation with Shivangi Shah brings about the potential of the growing lighting design trend. Lighting design and composition provide a fresh perspective on the space. These cutting-edge products and designs have the potential to bring about a novel tangent in interior design owing to the demand for something original. Studios like Hive Home are trying to meet this demand by delivering bespoke lighting installations with a balanced use of crafts and emerging technology.

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